Process of making cyanids.



Patented July 24, |900.

J. MACTEAR. y PROCESS 0F MAKING CYANIDS.

(Application filed Sept. 16, 1899.)

(NovModel.)

'NITE STATES PATENT stront c .AMEs MACTEAR, or` LoNooir, nixctnuo;

PRo'cEss or MAKING cwtrutisf.V

SPECIFICATION forming para of Letters ratnt No. 654,456, dated Jury 24, 190e. Application filed September i6, 1899. Serial No.730,701. (Nospeoimns.)

To all wiz/0m, it may concorre):

Be it known that I, JAMES MACTEAR, a subLv ject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of 28 Victoria street, London, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovement's in the Obtain mentof Cyano gen Compounds, (for which I have tiled an application for British Patent No. 5,037, dated IMarch 7, 1899,) of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to the production of ammonium cyanide and of alkaline cyanides at a reduced cost and without the production of useless byproducts, and to this end is characterized by the production of ammo-l nium cyanide by decomposing a mixture of gaseous ammonia and gaseous carbonio oxide (mixed, if pure, in the respective proportions of about two volumes of the former and one volume of the latter, preferably with the former slightly in excess) in a chamber charged with Wood-charcoal and heated internally and uniformly throughout by elecf tric resistances, and if alkaline cyanides are required by leading the ammonium cyanide and Water constituting the products ofthe reaction in the decomposing-chamber from the chamber and after beingcooled into absorption vessels containing appropriate alkaline hydrates in solution in water or alcoholsuch as caustic soda, if sodium cyanide is required, or caustic potash, if potassium cyanide is required, or a mixture of such hydrates if a mixture of such cyanides is required, with the consequent formation of the required cyanide or cyanide mixture and liberation from the ammonium cyanide of the ammonia, which latter may be recovered and may again be used in the cycle of operations, the alkaline cyanide or cyanide mixture be ing obtained by evaporating the solution, preferably in cacuo.

Where owing to cheapness of the electric current or to other favorable conditions the volume of the gases to be dealt with is not of material importance, an impure gaseous carbonio oxide-such as may be obtained by the limited combustion of carbonaceous matter with air or with air and steam7 such as producer-gas or Dowson gas, and in which the carbonio oxide will be mixed with nitrogen or with nitrogen and hydrogen-may be used iii mixture with the gaseous ammonia in the obtainment of the ammonium cyanide. i

, The heat-ing of the decomposing-chamber internally by the employment of electric resistances enables the chamber to be made of such internal dimensions as allow of the proci ess being carried out on a commercial scale, While also insuring that uniformity of a suicientlyhigh temperature throughout the chamber, which is so essential a requirement to the obtainment of the required product in a sufficiently economical way to be commercially practicable.

The accompanying drawings represent an electrical furnace suitable for use in the ob# tainment of the ammonium cyanidevand for which I am applying for United States patent under application Serial No. 732,510, Figure l representing the same in sectional eleva tion on the line l l, Fig. 2, and Fig. 2 representing the same in sectional plan on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, but not showing the catalytic substance.

a represents a vertically-arranged chamber made of porcelain or other suitable refractory material and formed of an oblong shape, Fig. 2, with open ends and lianged extensions c', the end faces of which are each formed with a surrounding annular channel co2, which communicates with the interior of the chamber by lateral perforations da. The chamber ends are closed bycovers b, each of Which is formed with through-openings h', adapted to communicate with the adjacent channels a2 of the chamber. The openings h at the inlet end of the chamber communicate by branched piping h2 With a main h3, leading from the mixing-chamber of the gases to be decomposed, and the openings b at the outlet end of the chamber communicate by branched piping b4 With a main b5, by which the products of the reaction of the gases in the chamber are led to the absorption vessels, wherein the ammonium cyanide is converted into the required alkaline cyanide. 4The chamber ends and its end coversare luted together at cl by a suit-able cement and are also bound together' by metal bands c. The'bottom end of the chamber is made with an inner ledge d, serving to support a perforated false bottom f, by which the Wood-charcoal gis supported. The chamber is heated internally by a series IOO of electrical resistances h, preferably in the form of coils of platinum wire Wound upon a support yof refractory material mounted in a tube j, of refractory material, passing into or through the chamber, the resistances being connected in series or otherwise With a dynamo or other source of electric energy by means of which their temperature can be raised to such a point as will give the required equal temperature in the spaces between the adjacent tubes j and also in those between each thereof and the adjacent sides of the chamber, whereby the desired equable temperature of the Whole i'terior of the decomposing-chamber is effectually obtained.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. The production of ammonium cyanide by the decomposition of a gaseous mixture of ammonia and carbonio oxide in a chamber charged with Wood-charcoal and heated in ternally and uniformly throughout by electrical resistances, as set forth.

2. The production of alkaline cyanides by the production of ammonium cyanide by the decomposition of a gaseous mixture of ammonia and carbonic oxide in a chamber charged with Wood-charcoal and heated internally and uniformly throughoutl by electrical resistances, the conversion of the ammonium cyanide into the required alkaline cyanide by the action of a corresponding alkaline hydrate in solution in Water or alcohol with liberation from the ammonium cyanide of the ammonia, and the obtainment of the required cyanide by the evaporation of the solution; as set forth.

Signed at London, England, this 10th day of August, 1899.

JAMES MAOTEAR.

Witnesses:

CHARLES AUBEEY DAY, ALFRED CHARLES DAY. 

